Carl Albert

On August 20, 1942, he married Mary Thomas in Columbia, South Carolina during his time in the Army. The couple went on to have two children, Mary Frances and David.

In 1979, the Carl Albert Center was established at The University of Oklahoma in Norman for the purpose of studying Congress and also to research and study Albert's life and political career.

Carl Albert died on February 4, 2000, in McAlester, Oklahoma after years of frail health. He was 91 years old.

Carl Albert was born on May 10, 1908 in the small town of McAlester, Oklahoma. His father was a poor coal miner and cotton farmer.

In 1927, he graduated from McAlester High School. He was gifted in debate and won the national oratorical contest. He was also student body president. In 1927, he entered the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

In 1928, he won the National Oratorical Championship and an all-expense paid trip to Europe. Through this, he was able to earn enough money to pay for the rest of his undergraduate education.

He was the top male student and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1931 with a political science degree.

He was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and studied law at Oxford University in England. He graduated from there in 1934.

In 1935, he opened a private law practice in Oklahoma City and practiced until World War II.

He served in the United States Army from 1941-1946 in World War II. He left the army as a lieutenant colonel.

Albert was elected to Congress as a Democrat in the 1946 election to represent "Little Dixie," the tiny third district of southeastern Oklahoma.

He went on to be elected to the fourteen succeeding Congresses, from 1947-1977.

In 1955, he was appointed House Majority Whip and remained so from the Eighty-fourth through Eighty-seventh Congresses.

In 1990, Albert published an autobiography entitled, 'Little Giant: The Life and Times of Speaker Carl Albert'.